Achi news desk-
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso (Credit: X)
Alonso has the unbeaten side 10 points clear of Bayern Munich and on course for a first ever German title with eight games remaining this season.
Ballon d’Or winner Lothar Matthaeus said on Wednesday that a summer move to Liverpool was “not the right option” for Bayer Leverkusen’s in-demand coach Xabi Alonso.
Alonso has been linked with moves to Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, clubs where he spent time as a player, having impressed so far with runaway Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen.
Alonso has the unbeaten side 10 points clear of Bayern Munich and on course for a first ever German title with eight games remaining this season.
In an interview with AFP and other media on Wednesday, Matthaeus said that outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp would be difficult for any coach and that Alonso should stay with Leverkusen.
“Liverpool is not the right option for Xabi Alonso after this season. He has better options.”
Matthaeus spent most of his career at Bayern and said he would welcome Alonso to replace outgoing coach Thomas Tuchel in the summer but admitted in Munich that “(Alonso) would have to build a new team for the future, with new players”.
Leverkusen have won 34 and won four of 38 games this season. With the club in the last four of the German Cup and the quarter-finals of the Europa League, Alonso has Leverkusen on track for a treble.
“Why move to Liverpool? Why should he leave this beautiful team that makes us happy with their beautiful football, like Barcelona 12 years ago?”
Klopp stunned the football world in January by announcing he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years with the Reds, citing fatigue.
Matthaeus said Klopp’s success at Liverpool had made him hard to follow.
“Coaching at Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp is not easy because Jurgen is a hero, he is great. What he was doing is great and what could you do that was much better?”
The 1990 World Cup-winning captain praised current Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann and said the side were “on the right track” after returning to form with wins over France and the Netherlands in the past week.
However, Matthaeus added: “In Germany, our dream and wish was that Jurgen Klopp would be the next national coach.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP)
